Not all the dukes of waterish Burgundy Shall buy this unprized precious maid of me.- Lear. Thou hast her, France: let her be tline; for we Have no such daughter, nor shall ever see [florish. Exeunt Lear, Burgundy, Cornwali, France. Bid farewell to your sisters. Cor. The jewels of our father, with wash'd eyes Cordelia leaves you: I know you what you are; And, like a sister, am most loath to call Your faults as they are named. father: Use well our Το your professed bosoms I commit him : Gon. Prescribe not us our duties. Re. Let your study Be, to content your lord, who hath received you At fortune's alms. You have obedience scanted, And well are worth the want that you have wanted.2 Blessing. 2 i. e. you are well deserving of the want of dower which you are without. As to the legitimate: fine word,—legitimate! Enter GLOSter. Glos. Kent banish'd thus, and France in choler parted, And the king gone to-night! subscribed 1 his power! Confined to exhibition! All this done Upon the gad! 3-Edmund! How now? what news? Edm. So please your lordship, none. [putting up the letter. Glos. Why so earnestly seek you to put up that letter? Edm. I know no news, my lord. Glos. What paper were you reading? Edm. Nothing, my lord. Glos. No? What needed then that terrible despatch of it into your pocket? the quality of nothing hath not such need to hide itself. Let's see: come; if it be nothing, I shall not need spectacles. Edm. I beseech you, sir, pardon me: it is a letter from my brother, that I have not all c'er 1 Yielded, surrendered. • Suddenly. 2 Allowance. read; for so much as I have perused, I find it not fit for your overlooking. Glos. Give me the letter, sir. Edm. I shall offend, either to detain or give it. The contents, as in part I understand them, are to blame. Glos. Let's see, let's see. Edm. I hope, for my brother's justification, he wrote this but as an essay1 or taste of my virtue. Glos. [reads.] This policy, and reverence of age, makes the world bitter to the best of our times; keeps our fortunes from us, till our oldness cannot relish them. I begin to find an idle and fond bondage in the oppression of aged tyranny; who sways, not as it hath power, but as it is suffered. Come to me, that of this I may speak more. If our father would sleep till I waked him, you should enjoy half his revenue for ever, and live the beloved of your brother, EDGAR.'-Humph!-conspiracy! Sleep till I waked him,-you should enjoy half his revenue.'-My son Edgar! Had he a hand to write this? a heart and brain to breed it in? When came this to you? Who brought it? Edm. It was not brought me, my lord; there's the cunning of it: I found it thrown in at the casement of my closet. Gios. You know the character to be your brɔther si Cor. Time shall unfold what plaited cunning hides : Who cover faults, at last shame them derides. Well may you prosper! France. Come, my fair Cordelia. [Exeunt France and Cordelia. Gon. Sister, it is not a little I have to say of what most nearly appertains to us both. I think our father will hence to-night. Re. That's most certain, and with you; next month with us. Gon. You see how full of changes his age is; the observation we have made of it hath not been little : he always loved our sister most; and with what poor judgment he hath now cast her off, appears too grossly. Re. 'Tis the infirmity of his age: yet he hath ever but slenderly known himself. Gon. The best and soundest of his time hath been but rash; then must we look to receive from his age, not alone the imperfections of long-ingrafted condition, but, therewithal, the unruly waywardness that infirm and choleric years bring with them. Re. Such unconstant starts are we like to have from him, as this of Kent's banishment. Gon. There is farther compliment of leave-taking between France and him. Pray you, let us hit together: if our father carry authority with such Qualities of mind. |